Cystic Echinococcosis (Hydatidosis) in Sheep, Goats, Cattle and Camels in Shahat Abattoir, Al- Jabal, Libya

An infection rate of 8.4% with cystic echinococcosis (Hydatidosis) was recovered among 1,050 sheep, goats, cattle and camels in Shahat abattoir in Al-Jabal, Libya. Of 554 sheep, 48 (8.7%) sheep were infected. Of 338 goats, 18 (5.4%) goats were infected. Of 124 cattle, 8 (6.4) cattle were infected and of 40 camels, 14 (35.0%) camels were infected. The animals were of both sexes and of various ages. The infection of 87.2% of infected sheep was in the liver, 33.4% was in the lungs, 6.3% was in the peritoneal cavity, and 2.4% was in the spleen. Meanwhile, the infection of 61% of infected goats was in the liver, 55.5% was in the lungs and 5.5% was in each of the spleen and the kidneys. As for the infection of cattle, 75.0% of the infection was in the liver, 37.5% was in the lungs and 12.5% was in the spleen. In camels, however, most of the infection, 78.5%, was in the lungs and only 35.7% was in the liver, with only a single case (7.1%), the infection of which was in the heart. There were also many mixed infection cases. The cysts of all infected cattle, but one cow (12.5%), were sterile, while the cysts of the other animals were mostly fertile. The fertility rate of sheep cyst was 79.2%, of goats was 61.0% and of camels was 57%.